Serenity in political uncertainty

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• College students face academic, personal, and significant sociopolitical stressors.
• Limited research exists on how college students adapt to widespread violence and political uncertainty.
• Lebanese youth experience unique stressors including violence, political instability, and economic hardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate associations between stress, uncertainty, resilience, social support, coping, and well-being in Lebanese first-year college students.
• Determine predictors of well-being among this demographic.
• Understand adolescent adaptation to sociopolitical stressors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 293 first-year university students in Lebanon.
• Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing stress, uncertainty, resilience, social support, coping strategies, and well-being.
• Multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of well-being.

Main Results:

• Resilience, uncertainty, social support, and gender were significant determinants of well-being, explaining 54.1% of the variance.
• Despite environmental stressors, Lebanese youth reported a strong sense of well-being.
• Social support and resilience emerged as crucial protective factors.

Conclusions:

• Lebanese adolescents exhibit remarkable adaptation and well-being in the face of severe sociopolitical stressors.
• Resilience and social support are vital for maintaining well-being in high-stress environments.
• Further research is needed to explore coping mechanisms for political uncertainty and violence.